Mitch Keller, Pirates Have Discussed Contract Extension

One day after tossing the first complete game shutout in his big league career, Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller joined 93.7 The Fan and shared some news.

According to Keller, his camp and the Pirates have at least discussed a possible contract extension.

Mitch Keller w/ us today on the @FanMorningShow. Are you working on a contract? "We're working on it." Then, “there’s been some talks, but nothing too extravagant just yet, pretty early stages of it.”

— Adam Crowley (@_adamcrowley) May 9, 2023

Keller, 27, is off the a hot start this season for the Pirates. Through eight games, Keller is 4-1 with a 2.72 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 49.2 innings.

It was nearly a year ago that Keller turned around his career. In his final 22 games last year, Keller posted a 3.22 ERA and finished the year with a career-best 3.91 ERA.

The 2014 second-round pick is under club control through the 2025 season, but the Pirates have began to look to extend their contractual control over the right-hander.

Earlier this season, the Pirates signed outfielder Bryan Reynolds to an eight-year contract which exceeded $100M, and the club inked third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes to a long-term deal at the beginning of the 2022 campaign.

Keller’s turnaround has resulted in him becoming the ace of the Pirates’ pitching staff. Keller was the team’s opening day starter in Cincinnati against the Reds on March 30.

Despite only snapping their seven-game losing streak on Monday night against the Colorado Rockies, the Pirates still hold a half-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the National League Central.